Extension tailpiece



July 10, 1928. 1,676,546

A. D. GROVERv I EXTENSION TAIL PVIEGE Filed Feb. 4, 1925 Ey mi flufeN/Eys.

Patented July l0, 1928.

UNITED STA TES PATENT oFF lcs.

. j ALBERT n. GROVER, or LONG ISLAND CITY, NEW YYORK.

1 EXTENSION TAILPIEGE.

. object of my invention is to provide a tailpiece of this character having string-guides of such a constructionthat the tail-piece may be used upon instruments using any of the usual numbers of strings. A further object is to provide a cover 4and means for keeping it closed whereby the tail-piece and the strings will be completely covered so that possible interference with a players sleeve will be avoided.

With these and other objects in view, the invention lies in theV construction and combination of parts more fully described hereinafter, set forth inthe appended claims and illustrated in the accompanying drawings, in which Fig. 1 is a plan view of the base of Aan instrument, showing my improved tail-piece, with partsvbroken away fori the sake of clarity; Fig. 2 is anelevational cross section along the line 22 of Fig. 1; Fig. 3 is a rear elevational view of the tail-piece,show ing string-holding means; Fig. 4 isa side elevational view of the tail-piece and cover in closed position; Fig. 5 isan enlarged detail end view of the forward end of the tai1- piece; and Fig. 6 is a cross sectional view along the line 6-6 of Fig'.` 1, omitting the strings.

Referring to theudrawings, and particularly "to Figs. 1 and 2, 10 denotes the instru-1 ment head stretched over a ring 11, and wound about a flesh hoop 12 in the wellknown manner, the latter being held in place by a straining ring 13 which is in turn held down by any suitable means, such as by hooks (not shown). The tail-piece is shown at 14 and comprises the well-known rim portion 15 and the head portion 16 at right angles to the rim portion and extending out over the head 10. The rear or rim portion 15 may be made fast to the instrument. rim by any suitable well-known means as indicated at 17.

The invention consists primarily in the novel construction of the forward end of the tail-piece whereby spaced string guides are` 'through the guides 22.

4, 1925. serial No. 6.746.

provided. The forward-or free end of the tail-piece is bent inwardly toward the ini,

strument head, as at 18, (but does not rest thereupon), and terminates in upstanding projections 19, preferably atl right angles to the head portion of the tail-piece. The projections are shaped and spaced as shown in Fig. 5 and comprise a numberof Tshaped projections 20 and two inverted L-s'haped projections 21, each of .the latte-r being of a shape substantially identical with a half of any of the projections"20. The cross pieces of these projectionsfcomprise lateral hooks which serve as guides 22 for strings passing thereunder. The projections are spaced so that these guides are equallyspaced, and so vthat the spaces 23 between adjacent projec tions are also equally spaced; The spaces 23 `serve as threading slots.` f A It is desirable, and Iprefer, to make the guides 22 of a height approximately in a plane with the upper surface of the tailpiece, so that strings 244 (Fig. 2) 'may pass thereunder and continue on in a straight 4line along the upper` surface of the tail-piece. It is with this object in View, whereby sudden and unsmooth curvature of the strings is prevented, that the forward end of the tail-piece. is bent inwardly to form the inclined portion 18. i

I prefer to 'form' three projections of the type of 20, whereby eight string guides in.`

all are provided.- Any of the usual number of strings used in instruments of this character, viz, 4, 5, 6, or 8,` may be threaded On the rim portion of the tail-piece tach string-holding means 25, preferably Vcomprising a number of hooks 26 Vadapted to VI at,

vided with ears 29 serving as pivot points for a cover having a rim portion 30 and a head portion 31 conforming substantially to the tail-piece. Its rim portion 30 has lateral flanges hinged or pivoted to the ears 29 as at 32, and the head portion 3l has desure underneath it.

pending flanges 33 which are spaced to lrictionally engage upstanding flanges Sel of the tail-piece. The cover is made of a size to overlie the entire tail-piece, and it rests at its vforward end on the tops of the projections 19, and extends beyond them to provide an overhanging portion which facilitates lifting of the cover by exertion of pres- The space between the tail-piece and the cover constitutes a chamber 35, as shownvin Fig. 6, in which the strings lie protected romcontact with a players sleeve.

I also prefer to provide flaps 36 integral with the tail-piece to rest upon the tensioning ring and keep the tail-piece lirmly in position, at .the same time preventing contact of the forward end of the tail piece with the instrument head 10.

The compactness, neatness, ease of threading,and general utility and appearance of the device will be apparent to anyone skilled in the art, and do not mean to limit my self tothe particular constructionshown, since it is conceivable that various modifications may be made, without departing from the spirit of the invention.

Whatk I claim4 is z- 1 1. An extension tail piece for stringed musical instruments comprising a head plate extending over the head vof the instrument and having a V-shaped lip, the latter being provided with spaced slots to receive and guide the -strings beyond the head plate, the other end of the plate being bent at an angle to provide a rim plate the upright side portions of which are bent outwardly to 'form ears, and a cover plate hinged at one end in said ears and having its opposite end supported on and projecting beyond the upturned edge of the lip.

2. An extension tail piece for stringed musical instruments comprising a head plate extending over the head Aportion of the instrument and having a` plurality of integral T-shaped projections cut in one end. the ends of the cross pieces of the projections being bent at an angle to form hooks to receive and guide the strings in the spaces therebetween and the portion of the head plate adjacent the projections being odset downwardly to be disposed just short of the head, a cover plate hinged to the tail piece and having its free endgsupported on and projecting beyond the upper edge of the projections, the cover plate being further bent downwardly along its longitudinal sides to vembrace the sides or' the head plate.

3. An extension tail piece for stringed musical instruments, comprising a head plate having integral T-shaped'string guides at one end, the cross pieces of the guides beinor bent at an angle to form hooks, the head plate being further bent at an angle at the opposite end to form a rim plate, and at the sides to form upright longitudinal side flanges, and a cover plate hinged to the rim plate and having its free end supported on and projecting beyond the said lstring guides and its longitudinal sides bent downwardly to embrace the flanges of the head plate.

4. An extension tail pieceas claimed in claim 3,in which a section of the head plate side flanges adjacent the rim plate isbent at anangle to engage and be supported by the straining ring of the instrument.

5. Ah extension tail pieceI for stringed .musical instruments'7 comprising a head plate extending over the head of the instrument and having three T-shaped projections bent at an angle and two outside inverted L- shaped projections bent at the same angle, all projections having the ends of their cross pieces bent at an angle to form hoops disposed to receive and guide the strings in the spaces therebetween.

6. An extension tail piece, as claimed in claim l, including al string holding attachf ment carried by the rim plate to hold the ends of the strings, substantially as described.

In testimony whereof I have aliXed my signature.

ALBERT D. GROVER. 

